Local Cosmetics Founder to Host Courage to Walk Domestic Violence Awareness Walk

By Jordyn Davis | For the Birmingham Times

Jeddie Carnes found her purpose after surviving two years of domestic abuse from her partner. After two long years of using makeup to cover her bruises and scars, she knew her calling was to help women find a voice, even if their abuse silences them.

Today, Carnes is the CEO and Founder of GLAAM Cosmetics, a local makeup company that prides itself on all-day wear and long-lasting coverage. Carnes found a way to turn her trauma into a tool women can use to stand up to their abusers.

This October marks the inaugural GLAAM Courage to Walk Domestic Violence Awareness Walk, in partnership with Lena Lando, a friend and domestic abuse survivor. The event will take place on Saturday, October 10 at 9 am. The walk will begin at Railroad Park, 1600 1st Avenue South, and feature refreshments, snacks and a guest speaker to encourage all who participate. Domestic abuse survivors are invited to share their stories and walk, free of charge. All participants are encouraged to wear purple, the universal color of survival and commitment to end domestic violence.

“Every 8 seconds, 1 out of 8 women are in a domestic violence situation. Most of them do not make it. I almost did not make it. My abuser tried to burn down my apartment because he couldn’t be with me. And a lot of us don’t make it,” Carnes told The Birmingham Times. “I just got tired of listening to women, including myself, telling stories of trauma and silence. Bringing awareness to it is to let people know that we are still here and alive. That we’re strong, resilient and powerful. I wanted to take away women’s silence.”

From pain to purpose

Both Carnes and Lando continue to hear the countless stories of local women who have survived severe trauma, however, for Carnes, one particular story pushed her to connect with other survivors to amplify their voices.

“There was a married woman who had three beautiful children and her husband, the one she picked and who was the love of her life, started abusing her,” Carnes recalled. “It started out verbal but went into emotional, mental and eventually physical. It was to the point where she had just delivered her baby and within moments of her getting out of the hospital, that’s when he started to hit on her more. Just knowing that she endured that pain with her children made me connect with her even more.”

Being able to connect with another woman who experienced the same trauma inspired Carnes to launch both GLAAM Cosmetics and begin domestic violence advocacy. In fact, Carnes often hears stories similar to hers in her beauty chair — a safe space where women can be heard and celebrate survival.

“In 2024, I took the leap of faith, and God told me to leave my job and start creating products that are transfer-proof, vegan and high performance,” Carnes said. “It’s for women that have a very busy lifestyle but also for women that have gone through what I have  it’s a way for us to cover up our scars.”

As an advocate for speaking up against your abuser, Carnes is looking forward to the presence and power that will fill the streets of Railroad Park. Her journey wasn’t easy, and there were times she felt completely hopeless. This event will show women in Birmingham that there is a way out and a community waiting for them, Carnes said.

“I would love for everyone to come out on October 10th with Lena Lando and myself,” Carnes said. “Come and walk. Come and hear some stories from women who want to share. We will have chips and water. Come ready to walk and be a part of this community.”

The GLAAM Courage to Walk is set for Saturday, October 10 at 9 am at Railroad Park in Birmingham. Register on Eventbrite.